Technical Architect - Data Platform Modernisation

+ Fuly remote role (with expensed travel)

+ £500 to £520 per day Inside IR35

+ SC Cleared role

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Technical Architect to lead the architectural modernisation of a large-scale, mission-critical data platform within DWP.

This is a hands-on senior architecture role focused on transforming a complex brownfield data estate while maintaining uninterrupted service delivery. You'll be driving major technical decisions across data architecture, infrastructure, security, and cross-cloud connectivity - shaping the future of a platform that directly supports millions of UK citizens.

Key Responsibilities

1. Brownfield Architecture & Platform Modernisation

• Lead the re-architecture of an established enterprise data platform (DWX).

• Support new microservice-based upstream integrations and large-scale schema evolution (300+ schemas).

• Design strategies to merge 3-5 years of legacy data with new data models while maintaining consistent user journeys.

• Define modernisation approaches that minimise disruption to live services.

2. Data Platform & Integration Architecture

• Design modern ingestion, transformation, and storage patterns.

• Define migration and schema transition strategies that maintain data quality, lineage, and service continuity.

• Architect phased rollout approaches to reduce operational risk.

3. Infrastructure, Security & Network Architecture

• Lead the transition from bespoke UC MacBook/VPC setups to standardised DWP environments using Zscaler.

• Define secure connectivity models between AWS-hosted platforms and Azure-based DWP environments.

• Ensure secure cross-cloud data transfer, compliance, and governance.

4. Technology Modernisation & Standards Alignment

• Assess existing technology choices and define migration strategies to DWP-aligned standards.

• Produce architecture options, technical roadmaps, and ADRs.

• Drive reduction of technical debt and alignment to DWP Digital Blueprint and Enterprise Architecture standards.

5. Leadership, Governance & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as senior architectural authority across DWX and related platforms.

• Provide architectural assurance, governance, and strategic technical leadership.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience as a Senior / Lead Technical Architect in complex brownfield environments.

• Deep expertise in data platform architecture, including ingestion patterns, schema evolution, and microservice integration.

• Strong AWS + Azure multi-cloud integration experience.

• Background working within government, public sector, or regulated environments.

• Strong infrastructure, security & network architecture experience (Zscaler, VPCs, VPN, identity).

• Experience modernising critical platforms while maintaining live service delivery.

• Strong governance, security assurance and SRE handover experience.

• Excellent stakeholder communication and leadership skills.

• Strong technical documentation skills (Confluence / SharePoint).

Desirable

• Event-driven and microservice-based data architectures.

• Kotlin experience and migration pathways to Java / Python.

• Knowledge of Power BI, CoPilot, or GenAI.